Ducati Monster Forum

One of our suppliers stole our ExactFit product line.  :-[  :P  [thumbsdown]

They didn't even change the artwork...

(http://ca-cycleworks.com/c/stolen_belts_montage.jpg)


That "BDL" company is Belt Drives Limited in Anaheim, CA. They were our sales people who handled distributing our belts from BesTorq, the manufacturer/importer in Nebraska. BDL, however, also has belts made for them in China. Probably in the same plant ours are made -- with the same molds that were custom built for our ExactFit timing belt products. As BDL were our account handler, they asked for the PDF files of the artwork for our ExactFit belts. BDL are the people who import the drive belts for Harley Davidsons as sold by Drag Specialties.

So, yeah, BDL was "let's get your belts in Parts Unlimited! We'll license it and send you royalties." ... that was just before they stopped filling our orders. And that's what caused the drought. They didn't tell us how they were not keeping up with our supply -- so we'd be 9 weeks behind.

F*kcing grrr.  [shot]

Good thing we bought a rotational molding machine because it looks like we're on our way out of Ducati parts.

 >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( [thumbsdown] [thumbsdown] [thumbsdown] [thumbsdown] [thumbsdown] [thumbsdown] [thumbsdown] [thumbsdown] [thumbsdown] [thumbsdown] [thumbsdown] [thumbsdown] [bang] [bang] [bang] [bang] [bang] [bang] [bang] [bang] [bang] [bang] [bang] [bang]

Any recourse other than packing it in and moving in a different direction?

There is no true recourse. I'm hoping everyone yells at Parts Unlimited and they at least switch to buying from us. This is a clear example of big business screwing over the little guy. I've worked 20 years and the belts were supposed to pay off our debt and hopefully fund my retirement as we transfer Cycleworks over to the kids -- in the next 15 or 20 years.

Parts Unlimited has MSRP higher than ours, so that will help us to continue sales with our established customer base and distributor network. P-U is on Facebook, @PartsUnlimited

For 20 years, I've built my reputation and business on taking care of y'all. And many many times, I've seen the forums kick it in to gear to save us in the little things. This is a big thing, we'll need big help.

Thanks,
Chris

Hearing this saddens angers me Chris!  Just ain't right.

Chris...I'm going to split these posts and move them to the general forum. It will get more attention there than buried in here. I'll also tell everyone I know to not buy the belts from PU.

I sincerely hope it works out for you. You always have done your best for this, and the entire Duc community.

This is not good news.

Will do what we can to support you in this Chris. Dirty make the beast with two backsen business.

Absolutely ridiculous!  >:(  Just shared the post on Facebook, tagging PU.

Low down, dirty, stinking thieves!

I will continue to buy mine directly from Ca-Cycleworks.

What's the backlog on 696 belts?

Chris,

I just installed a set yesterday on my M1100 evo. From my email records, I've been a repeat customer since 2004. You're not going to lose me any time soon!

How can we (as consumers) help you run a profitable business (I like you... personally, despite internet nonsense and lack of personal interactton).

Desert Desmo isn't going anywhere else for belts (or other parts).  [thumbsup]

Chris,

This is some dirty business! I was bummed when you left San Diego, I went into GP looking to pick up some oe belt$. Was stoked to find Candice at the counter, and exact fit belts for sale! Still have the used ramp you sold me cheap, so I could truck my monster to Moto gp in Laguna seca. I'll keep buying your stuff, as long as you keep making it. Hope you can get your stuff into PU.

Good luck dude.

Sorry to hear it. That really sucks :( Can you cross post this to ducati.ms and the other forums to get some traction? Maybe if enough people take notice, some change might happen??

Do you have any legal standpoint from a copyright infringement perspective???

yeah i have a buddy who has a small moto accessory business.  his biggest distributor in the UK turned around and had his own products re-made in china and started reselling them.

pretty shitty.

Just ordered a set of belts on Saturday from ya'll and already have a tracking number. That's service. I'm going on PU when I get home to ask if M&M's are included in their belt offer, then tell them to take a flying f*ck at a rolling donut when they say "wut"

I see 2 sets on the shelf, so get your order in immediately. We now have our manufacturing started up again and have been placing orders every 2 weeks. So the belts that came in Friday? The PO was sent in late January. The next shipment has more TB696 belts coming in and that'll be in the next 8 to 12 business days.

______________________________________________

Thanks! I haven't been on the forums at all for like 2 years, sorry about that! It has been a mad scramble trying to get the tanks in production. I wasted almost a year trying to work with the local rotational molder and finally got fed up with the run-around so we went back to Cali and bought a roto machine of our own. Literally every minute of every work day is spent trying to get our tanks going again.


» Buy actual ExactFit™ timing belts via our established sales channels.
» Buying from us is great; however, supporting our dealers and distributors is awesome and better for growning our overall sales and brand awareness.
» Ask your local dealer to offer Ca Cycleworks ExactFit™ timing belts. Before BDL interfered with our ability to purchase our own products, GP Motorcycles in San Diego became a distributor. As a franchised Ducati dealer, they are in a unique position to help get our belts into more franchised dealers. I've known the folks at GP for decades and they are pretty conservative about jumping on aftermarket products.
» If the parts guy at your dealer knows about this situation, ask them to to avoid buying the counterfeit "Tru-Fit" belts from Parts Unlimited and instead carry Ca Cycleworks ExactFit™ timing belts.
» Any chance you've got to yell at @PartsUnlimited, do it.

If you or a friends have a Harley, BDL are the drive belt manufacturers for Parts Unlimited sister company Drag Specialties.
» You can let Harley dealers who care about small business know what's happening and get them to pressure their Parts Unlimited / Drag Specialties sales reps to do the right thing.
» What is the "Right thing"? Got me... I am a problem solver, not a screwer-overer of other businesses. Maybe they can buy our timing belts from us instead of counterfeits from BDL? Or just make Tru-Fit go away and go on like nothing happened? Got me.
» I'm not one to call for boycotts; they are normally just bad for business. But if enough people yell at me to furnish an alternative to BDL / Drag Specialties drive belts for H-D, I'll do it.

______________________________________________



I'm really not one to spam forums and prefer to instead have everyday folks like y'all help spread the word. You guys are on the various forums and know the nuances of which board to post on, etc. Plus, right now, I really don't spend much time on computers. I try to update facebook with my progress on the rotational machine -- that has been epic work and I need to get that thing earning us money.


Possibly. It's obvious they used the actual digital PDF files I created for their counterfeit products' labeling. Like literally, when BDL were our sales people, they demanded that I supply them the artwork "to confirm it is correct with the importer/manufacturer, BesTorq".

Doesn't matter since we don't have spare $ to pay lawyers. When BDL starved us, it did almost kill Ca Cycleworks. I moved out east to be with family; we had a family meeting and discussed closing the business. The only reason we were able to keep going was inheritance from a death in the family. Besides continuing to support our products and customers, the number 1 reason we didn't quit was so that we could provide for 3 generations of family.

OK - gotta go. I'll try to remember to check in 2x a day...

Thanks,
Chris

Not nice to hear this; specially since you've been so helpful, people remember the helpful videos;  [thumbsup]

so to see you getting squeezed  out of business (F-ed over) is more than annoying  [thumbsdown]

... you have a loyal group of customers because you have good product and you've given much and have so much on line info to back it up so hope this keeps you in good stead and have a steady stream of customers.

Cheers Dave

 [Dolph]

Thanks Dave!

We confirmed that the official importer/manufacturer (BesTorq in Nebraska) was not aware of the counterfeit belts nor a part of the process in manufacturing them.

BesTorq and I spent a year and a half working out the details before production even began. Once the belts were in service, they flew to California a couple times to look at the belts on actual motorcycles - once at Laguna Seca and another time at a dealer. BesTorq ended up making new molds for all our belts to ensure the best fit and highest reliability.

If it weren't for the [bang], I would be more [popcorn]. So it's on all of us to stick together to build the ExactFit™ brand and [beer].

Thanks,
Chris

wow.  what assholes.

Other than buying directly from you or Monsterparts, do you know what other retailers are selling genuine belts?

Parts purchased from cà cycleworks

what about the  ca-cycleworks belt from motowheels?

Not positive, but I think motowheels is a retailer for Chris.

I ask because I just got a set of belts in today and they say CA-Cycleworks on the package but the belts have "BDL" on them as well

I'm sure Chris will be by to comment. If BDL is using ca-cycleworks logo as well as the artwork, it might change things, legally.

Take some pics...please?

(http://youngstrading.com/pimage/201701/cacycle2.jpg)
(http://youngstrading.com/pimage/201701/cacycle1.jpg)

i will have to look at my old belts that im replacing.  They were from ca-cycleworks website years ago.  I dont know if the paint/label has rubbed off on the old ones but when i get them off, i will see if the old ones say "bdl" on them as well

All I can say is the pics of the belts that Chris posted don't say...'by BDL' on the ca-cycleworks belts.

Interesting, I just bought a set from GP a few weeks ago. I will check when I get home if they say "by BDL"

Edit. Same "by BDL" on the belts. Sneaky bastards. I would think changing you logo to make them say this, shows premeditated intention to steal your shit. <---- that's some fancy lawyer words, for they are dicks.

Yes, the "by BDL" was a sneak they added in without our permission. BesTorq confirmed it was their request last year.

Counterfeit belts do not have:
1) the white CA Cycleworks "bike and bar" logo
2) ExactFit wording
3) ca-cycleworks.com web address

Thanks,
Chris

Do you have recourse for them changing your logo without your consent?

Well, in the good karma for Chris column, ExactFit belts are clearly pictured on Jalaopniks Lane Splitter today.

http://lanesplitter.jalopnik.com/its-cheaper-to-maintain-a-ducati-than-you-think-1793896003

Intereeting article

Chris- I know its only a small drop in the bucket, but if we all did this it would be huge....I am having my 748 serviced here in charlotte and I requested your belts-direct deom you over OEM.  I hope this gets sorted out and in the end you get more customers because of it! Good luck my friend!

Just seeing this now.  Shame.


Duly noted.  One more loyal customer here that will only order direct from CA-Cycleworks.